The 2013 class in Ohio is looking to be strong once again at the defensive end position. A handful of prospects have picked up early offers and there are a few others that likely won't have to wait much longer to get their first offer. One prospect that falls into the latter category is Groveport (Ohio) Groveport-Madison product Dawuane Smoot. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder is coming off a strong sophomore season and is starting to get noticed by college programs.

Smoot went over his reasons for liking both the Buckeyes and the Hurricanes.

"(On Ohio State) I've been a fan because of my Grandma and everybody in my family likes them," he said. "I've just been a fan since I was little. (On Miami) I like their speed and their confidence. All around they're just good."

Smoot camped at Ohio State back in June and has put himself on the Buckeyes' radar.

"I went to the Ohio State camp," he explained. "I think I did pretty good. I talked to their defensive line coach (Jim Heacock) and he said that they were going to look at me this year and that they looked at my highlight tape but I felt like I did pretty good."

Though Smoot had a good sophomore season, he's ready to take his game to the next level this fall. The athletic pass-rusher has been working hard in the weight room over the off-season and has made incredible strides from a physical standpoint.

"I think I did pretty good for my first year but there's always room for improvement," he said. "I'm expecting big things. I've been working hard all off-season lifting weights, I've put on about 30-pounds (since last season)."

Smoot isn't the only good defensive end on the East side of Columbus as both Pickerington Central product Taco Charlton and Pickerington North's Jake Butt already hold BCS offers. Smoot is hoping to join that elite group at some point.

"My expectations are high and I saw most of them at the combines I went to and I saw how big they are and how fast they are and it just makes me want to work harder to be better than them and to try and work harder than them," he said.